As we become more dependent on online meetings, mic feedback is something that many of us experience.
It is not pleasant and can be quite ear-shattering at times, not to mention startling for anyone that happens to be nearby or on a call with you.
If you need to learn how to stop microphone feedback on computers, we are here to show you methods that you can use to reduce and even stop microphone feedback altogether.
What Is Microphone Feedback?
Microphone feedback is the loud screeching or even humming noise that can blare out of your speakers or headset due to a positive feedback loop.
Basically, a sound will bounce off the microphone and the speakers until your system becomes overloaded.
What Causes Feedback on a Microphone?
A series of events happening in a loop creates feedback.
First, the microphone will capture a sound and then convert it into an audio signal that is sent to your speakers, which is then amplified as sound.
The microphone will then pick up the sound coming from your speakers and sends an even louder audio signal, and then this signal continues to rapidly bounce back and forth, creating a louder sound or feedback.
Why Is My Mic Echoing PC?
Sometimes, what causes feedback in speakers and its solution is not a big mystery.
When you begin hearing feedback on your PC, do not unplug your microphone but rather mute your output as fast as you can.
On many computers, this is as easy as pressing the mute button.
Also, if you happen to be using an audio interface, you will need to mute the interface itself.
How Do I Stop Mic Playback?
When you are trying to reduce the chance of feedback or eliminate it, it is important to consider your microphone and speakers’ position.
You will want to make sure the microphone is pointed away from your speakers as much as possible.
For example, if you have a surround sound system and thus have a speaker directly behind you and then having your microphone in front of you.
The microphone will pick up the sounds coming from behind you and create feedback.
So, if you are wondering how to get rid of feedback on computer speakers, positioning can go a long way.
How To Stop Microphone Feedback on Computers
Now that you know what causes feedback in speakers, let’s talk about how you can prevent it on your PC.
Determine Your Audio Input and Output
Knowing the inputs and outputs of your computer is important when troubleshooting your feedback problems.
For example, if you are using a laptop that utilizes its built-in mic and speakers simultaneously, they could actually create feedback due to their close proximity.
To prevent this, you may want to plug in a separate set of speakers or use a different microphone.
Adjust Gain
If your microphone is near your speakers, there is always a chance of some kind of feedback occurring.
Sometimes this is unavoidable due to room size, desk size, or even the kinds of devices you are using.
However, you can minimize or even prevent feedback by adjusting your gain levels in your audio settings.
In order to do this, set the input’s gain to zero and then unmute your speakers or output and set your microphone to your typical levels.
Next, slowly increase the input’s gain until you hear feedback, and then dial it down a little bit.
If the feedback starts before the volume levels are where you want them to be, try repositioning your speakers and microphone.
Microphone Boost
Another method that you can use to eliminate feedback is to reduce your microphone boost.
Also, many microphones have noise suppression or an acoustic echo cancellation feature.
Enabling these features in your audio settings can go a long way in preventing audio feedback from occurring.
This is also a great technique for microphones that are too sensitive.
You may come across situations where you are doing everything right, but your mic is still creating feedback.
So, before you return your microphone to the store, go to the audio settings and reduce the boost.
This can help tremendously in making a sensitive mic usable.
How Do I Stop My Mic from Picking Up My Speakers?
As mentioned earlier, the positioning of your microphone is crucial for preventing microphone feedback.
You may want to keep your microphone as far away as possible from your speakers.
You can then tweak the sound settings by amplifying the mic sound and speaker volume to make sure they sound good.
Adjust Your Volume
Another cause that can lead to feedback is too high volume.
If the sound is too loud, it could leak into your microphone while you are using it.
A good way to improve this situation is to crank up your speakers and play a sound until your microphone begins to create feedback.
Once this happens, you can slowly reduce the volume until the feedback stops. This will let you know what your max volume is.
Reduce Echoes
Sometimes the step on how to stop microphone feedback on computers takes more than a few tweaking.
This particular method is a bit extreme, but it is very useful if you plan to make voice recordings or even record music using your computer.
You will want to find ways to reduce the echoes occurring in your room.
That includes placing more furniture in the space if it is too empty or even using acoustic foam on the walls, which can absorb sound and prevent it from bouncing around the room that can otherwise contribute to feedback or reduced audio quality.
Enjoy Crystal Clear Sound
Microphone feedback is without a doubt very annoying, but with some patience and tinkering, it is possible to stop it completely.
Just remember to have your finger on the mute button, so you don’t blow out all the glass in the house, then slowly reposition and adjust audio settings until everything sounds perfect.
You can even take it a step further and create a little recording studio in a sense by using acoustic foam.
That’s how to get rid of feedback on computer speakers!